Achtel and Balafas

This matter came before Bennett J concerning parenting orders for the child of the relationship between the Applicant Father and the Respondent Mother. The dispute concerned arrangements for the child's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and parental responsibility.

The court was required to determine the terms of final parenting orders, including arrangements for equal shared parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the specific times the child would spend with each parent. Additionally, the court addressed issues relating to communication between parents, travel, education, and restraints on parental conduct.

The orders were made by consent of the parties. The court ordered that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility for the child's long-term care, welfare, and development. The child was ordered to live with the Mother, with specific, detailed provisions outlining the time the child would spend with the Father, including during school terms, holidays, and on special occasions. The orders also included provisions for communication between parents and the child, information sharing regarding the child's health and education, and restraints on parental behaviour, including prohibitions on denigrating the other parent and substance abuse while the child is in their care. Further orders addressed domestic and overseas travel, the child's passport, and mandatory conjoint family counselling and post-separation parenting education for both parents. The court also made orders regarding the child's education and prohibited corporal punishment.

By consent, all extant orders were discharged, and all hearing dates were vacated. The applications for final parenting orders by both the Applicant Father and Respondent Mother were dismissed. The order for the appointment of an independent children's lawyer was discharged, and all other extant applications were dismissed. The matter was removed from the list of cases awaiting determination.